Apple Watch Series 11 vs Garmin Venu 2 Plus
The Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 11 and Garmin Venu 2 Plus sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Apple Watch Series 11 is the cheaper of the two at $399 versus $449, a difference of about $50. The Apple Watch Series 11 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple Watch Series 11 stands out for hypertension detection for chronic high blood pressure, while Garmin Venu 2 Plus is praised for built-in speaker and microphone enable phone calls from the wrist. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple Watch Series 11 if…
- →Hypertension detection for chronic high blood pressure
- →Sleep score for sleep quality insights
- →24-hour battery life (up from 18h on Series 10)
Buy the Garmin Venu 2 Plus if…
- →Built-in speaker and microphone enable phone calls from the wrist
- →Vivid AMOLED display is one of the best on any Garmin
- →Voice assistant support (Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby) via phone
Pros & Cons
Apple Watch Series 11
Pros
- Hypertension detection for chronic high blood pressure
- Sleep score for sleep quality insights
- 24-hour battery life (up from 18h on Series 10)
- 5G connectivity on cellular models
- 2x more scratch-resistant Ion-X glass
Cons
- Same S10 chip as Series 10
- Starting price increased to $399
- Still limited to one-day battery life
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
Pros
- Built-in speaker and microphone enable phone calls from the wrist
- Vivid AMOLED display is one of the best on any Garmin
- Voice assistant support (Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby) via phone
- 9-day battery with AMOLED is excellent
- On-watch music storage with Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer
Cons
- No cellular — phone calls require Bluetooth connection to phone
- No multi-band GPS — less precise in urban canyons
- $449 approaches Apple Watch Ultra territory
- Stainless steel bezel adds bulk at 51 g
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 11 | Garmin Venu 2 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Software | watchOS 26 | Garmin OS (Connect IQ) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 34.6 g (42mm) / 43.1 g (46mm) | 51 g |
| Case material | Aluminum or Titanium (Grade 5) | Stainless steel bezel with fiber-reinforced polymer case |
| Water resistance | IP6X, 50m WR | 5ATM |
| Health & Sensors | ||
| ECG | ||
| SpO₂ | ||
| Skin temperature | ||
| Heart rate | ||
| Sleep tracking | ||
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 24 hours | Up to 9 days (smartwatch), 24 hrs GPS |
| Display | ||
| Size | 42mm / 46mm | 43mm (1.3 inches) |
| Type | Retina LTPO3 OLED | AMOLED |
| Always-on display | ||
| Resolution | 496 x 416 (46mm) | 416 x 416 |
| Processor | ||
| Chipset | Apple S10 | Garmin custom processor |
| Connectivity | ||
| GPS | ||
| NFC | ||
| Wi-Fi | ||
| Cellular | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in smartwatches, see all Apple products or all Garmin products. View full details for the Apple Watch Series 11 or the Garmin Venu 2 Plus.